"The area's secured, Kajimoto-sama."

"Excellent. Thank you, Reiji."

Kajimoto Takahisa's lips curved in a smirk as he finished putting in the last of the day's numbers into his laptop. Hearing that their immediate area was secured was something of a relief; it meant he could actually go home without wondering if he was going to get shot dead en route. The region had been getting more and more volatile as the war heated up, and not even the neutral parties were really safe anymore.

He closed his laptop, sliding it into its case and rising. Shinjiou walked out without a word, though by the time Kajimoto had left the secluded, high tech back room and slid through the rather seedy bar that fronted it, the guard was waiting in his entirely ordinary-looking Toyota sedan. Kajimoto slid into the back seat, closing the door and letting out a sigh. Shinjiou started the engine, but waited until they were in motion to say anything. "Received another overture from Atobe-sama today. His offers grow handsomer every time."

"That's because they lose more people every time and need our manpower," Kajimoto said dryly. "He's hunting down Rokkaku too, I know he is. They want us more because they want our teamwork."

"Aa." Shinjiou wove the car deftly through the streets of Tokyo, eventually leaving the main urban area and winding down a few roads to a gated plot of land, far enough away that the traffic didn't disturb the tranquility. He buzzed himself into the gate, driving in as the iron slowly swung open. "He has some foot soldiers left, but he's down in his recruiting. The main seven remain, though, and he has Seigaku in his corner as well."

"Always has, always will," the violet-eyed one snorted. "If he wasn't so hellbent on getting Tezuka in bed, then maybe they wouldn't, but hey."

Shinjiou snorted as he pulled up in front of the large, two-story house. Kajimoto climbed out of the car, shouldering his bag. "Keep Hiroshi in line, would you? And keep me posted." The bodyguard snorted; he always got saddled with the job of keeping the redhead in line. Lucky him. The Toyota drove off, and Kajimoto headed into his house. It was large; five bedrooms, spacious kitchen, every guy's dream den, three car garage. It was also very very empty. He lived alone, after all, and likely always would. The laptop bag was put in its place, and he removed shoes and suit jacket before wandering into the den. For a moment, he just stood there, eyes closed.

When you first joined the yakuza...when I did...did you think it would be like this?